Dwayne Bravo took four wickets as the West Indian attack restricted India to 235 for nine at close of play on the opening day of the first Test on Friday.
ST JOHN'S (Antigua): Dwayne Bravo took four wickets as the West Indian attack restricted India to 235 for nine at close of play on the opening day of the first Test on Friday.
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was 24 not out with Munaf Patel yet to score.
Medium pacer Bravo took four wickets for 37 runs.
The West Indian bowlers quickly found a probing line and length on a pitch that offered a modicum of movement off the seam, although most of the wickets fell because of indecisive or rash strokes.
Captain Rahul Dravid top scored for the visitors with a disciplined 49.
India were in dire straits after a typical top order collapse saw them slip to 144 for four at tea.
The Indians, aiming for their first series win in the Caribbean in 35 years, were found wanting against the moving ball on a lively wicket at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
Opening batsmen Wasim Jaffer (1) and Virender Sehwag (36) and the stylish VVS Laxman all perished to regulation catches behind the wicket as the visitors were reduced to 72 for three in the morning session.
The in-form Yuvraj Singh and skipper Rahul Dravid then led the recovery with their watchful innings before the former failed to read Dave Mohammed and was bowled by the left arm spinner, for the second time on the tour, for 23.
At break, Dravid was batting on a patient 35 that consumed 127 balls, with Mohammad Kaif 13 not out at the other end.
Looking to restore their reputation on a tour that had gone against the script so far, the Indians failed to see through the tough morning session when the ARG pitch offered unusual movement and pace.
Jaffer fell in the third over of the day when he went back after edging a lifting delivery from Fidel Edwards to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin in the third over of the day.
Sehwag began with two flicked fours off Ian Bradshaw and generally hit at least boundary off the two new ball bowlers before a tentative push cost him his wicket.
The Delhi opener cracked seven boundaries for his 36 off 37 balls and seemed to have had the measure of the wicket when he fended at a harmless delivery from Collymore.
Corey Collymore came into the operations in the 11th over and struck off his very first ball when Sehwag's edge carried to Brian Lara at second slip.
Laxman was in serene touch and was precise in his judgment of Collymore who bowled an impeccable line.
Laxman thumped both Edwards and Bradshaw for square driven fours and had a straight drive which screamed to the fence in no time.
In between, there was a streaky jab at a delivery from Collymore that found the fence alright but showed the pitch to be of awkward variety.
Growing confident with each passing minute though proved to be Laxman's failing as he aimed a loose drive at a Dwayne Bravo delivery and edged a catch behind the stumps.
He faced 74 balls and hit five fours in his knock of 29 runs.
India surprisingly named Anil Kumble as their only frontline spinner despite the traditionally slow pitch at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
Ten of the 20 Tests played at this venue have been drawn.
West Indies won the recent one-day series between the two countries by 4-1.
India have not won a series in the Caribbean since Ajit Wadekar's side achieved victory 35 years ago.
The four-Test series between the two sides features matches at Gros Islet (June 10-14), Basseterre (June 22-26), and Kingston (June 30-July 4).
The ARG, where Brian Lara has twice broken the world record for the highest individual score, Vivian Richards hit the fastest Test hundred, and West Indies successfully chased the highest fourth innings total to win a Test, appears to be hosting its final international match.
The ARG, like many others around the Caribbean, does not meet the rigorous demands of the 2007 World Cup to be staged in the West Indies that has prompted the Antigua and Barbuda Government to construct an ultra-modern stadium.
Located in the district of Northsound about four and a half miles outside of the capital, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will seat 20,000 for the six matches it will host in the Super Eight round of the competition, and scaled down to a 10,000-seater after the World Cup.
Scoreboard at stumps on Friday
India
Wasim Jaffer c Ramdin b Edwards 1
Virender Sehwag c Lara b Collymore 36
VVS Laxman c Ramdin b Bravo 29
Rahul Dravid c Lara b Collymore 49
Yuvraj Singh b Mohammed 23
Mohammad Kaif c Ramdin b Bravo 13
Mahendra Dhoni c Lara b Collymore 19
Anil Kumble b Bravo 21
Shanthakumaran Sreesanth not out 24
Vikram Singh c Sarwan b Bravo 2
Munaf Patel not out 0
Extras: (8lb, 1w, 9nb) 18
Total: (for nine wickets) 235
Overs: 88.
Fall of wickets: 10 1, 51 2, 72 3, 126 4, 155 5, 179 6, 180 7, 227 8, 231 9.
Bowling: Fidel Edwards 16 3 50 1 (1nb, 1w), Ian Bradshaw 24 3 83 0 (7nb), Corey Collymore 17 7 27 3, Chris Gayle 4 0 6 0, Dwayne Bravo 20 9 37 4 (1nb), Dave Mohammed 7 1 24 1.
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Dave Mohammed, Ian Bradshaw, Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore.
Toss: India.
Umpires: Simon Taufel, Australia, and Asad Rauf, Pakistan.
Third TV umpire: Billy Doctrove, Dominica.
Match referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.
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